A Link Without Zelda [COMPLETE]

7. Song Of Connection

Link glances at the time which reads 12:07 am. It's late, but there are some night owls who like to work late into the night. Usually by 11 pm, the town is quiet but Link decided to give it some extra time to ensure the people are settled in their homes and ideally, beds. He figures now is a good time so he pulls on a navy blue sweater and pants and heads outside. He is pleased that he doesn't see too many people on his stroll to Adel's home. He takes a thorough look around before he approaches the front door. He quietly turns the door knob and isn't surprised that it's locked. That would be too easy. He walks around the back of the house and gently slides the window, trying to gage how he can open it. He looks around a spots a thin and sturdy sheet of metal. Maybe he can use that to pry open the window enough to reach in to unlock it. He slides it under the window and lifts it up just an inch when something reflecting back at him.

It's a key. He picks it up feeling the cold metal in his finger tips. He puts the metal bar back where he found it and adjusts the window so it doesn't look like it was tampered with. Then he makes his way back to the front door, puts the key in and to his delight, enters the house gently closing the door behind him. He puts the keys back into his pocket for easy access to the house again if need be.

The house looks different from when he stayed here with Adel. One reason is because since the house isn't lived in, it is garnered dust and some small and fury critters. There are spider webs and he can hear the scurrying of rodents upstairs. But in addition to that is the silence. The emptiness. One might expect to feel a ghostly presence since the inhabitants have left so soon and suddenly. It's a hard slap in the face that Adel isn't here but at the same time, it makes him wonder if she and her father at peace. He hopes so.

He walks up the stairs, his hand brushing along the dusty stair rail, feeling the dent wit his finger tips from years of use. He knows that there probably isn't any information he is looking for in Adel's room. She knew nothing at all until only months ago. Still, he opens her room and walks in. It breaks his heart. She was so meticulous about everything and while her room still reflects that, he knows that she would never stand for the dust. He can't help himself. He finds an old rag cloth and cleans the furniture in her room.

Then he sits in silence and looks around the room.

"I guess what everyone says is wrong. You really do only live to serve the princess of Hyrule," says a voice. Link jumps out of his skin.

"Holy shit, Ellemy. You scared me. And what the hell are you doing here?"

"I saw somebody come in. I thought it was you."

"And you just happen to lurk around people's homes in the goodness of your heart?"

"Well," she says, "I had a feeling you might be around here sooner rather than later."

"What gave you that feeling?" he says.

She is quiet for a moment as she gazes around the room then she locks eyes with Link and smiles. "I pay attention, Link."

He doesn't say anything.

"So now that I have come clean, do you care to tell me your side of things?"

He hesitates.

"I want to help and let's be real, you have a better chance of success if you rely on me. You can rely on me. I promise if you let me help you, I won't utter a word to any one."

She has a point. "Why," he breathes, "why do you care about helping me?"

"Because I want to be close to you."

He opens his mouth to speak with the expectation of refusing her offer. He is surprised when he says, "So you promise I have your word."

She smiles big. "Yes! Ok, what are you looking for. Where can I start?"

He sighs. "I'm looking for anything that has to do with Hyrule and Elrule. Any piece of information that can get me home. Start anywhere."

They rummage through the house. Every room, every drawer. Nothing.

"But if he kept secrets, I'm sure the information wouldn't be that accessible."

"Good point," says Link. "I remember Adel found some stuff in a cellar she didn't even know existed."

"Well, if that's the case, maybe there are more secret rooms here."

Link starts scanning the room, inspecting the floor boards.

"Come on, Link, think like these guys. It wouldn't be in plan view. Help me move the bed."

Link cocks an eye at her. "You seem to know a lot about concealing information. Should I check your room?" says Link.

"Hey, I have an older and a younger brother. When Xavier found my diary and told my dad about a boy I was dating, I learned a few tricks of the trade."

"Oh, yeah?" says Link struggling to move the heavy bed. "So who is the boy?"

Ellemy smiles. "I don't just keep secrets from my family."

They look at each other a moment and then Ellemy points to the floor, reminding Link why they were there.

Link pulls up the floor board, revealing a small space with paper and books. He retrieves them.

"You got your work cut out," she says sitting down next to him. "Hey this is interesting. Music and the Royal Family." she passes it to Link.

"I'm going to need weeks to consume all this information," he says flipping through the book. He stops on a page of a blue ocarina and he has a memory. A memory not from this lifetime.

Link is standing in his armor. He is in the castle courtyard, just summoned by the princess. He waits for her, his heart racing. No. This isn't the first time they are meeting but it is their first time meeting to discuss what they know, as chosen ones.

Link paces around. Silly stuff crosses his mind. Since their relationship has changed from professional to personal, how does he address her? Would formalities disappoint her? Then again, would lack of formalities offend her? Then he wonders why he cares so deeply.

He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear her heels clicking on the cobblestone behind him.

"Link," she says, making him turn around abruptly.

"Oh, hi," he says, bowing to one knee. He closes his eyes and mentally shakes his head. Why not do a mashup of both of them?

"It's OK Link," she says, reaching out her hand. He takes it and she helps him up. "Outside of castle duties, you can treat me... as a friend. It would make me happy."

"Very well," he says.

"About our plan," she begins, "I don't know how it's going to go but it's imperative that we be able to connect, should we lose connection. Here," she says, taking out her ocarina, "I will teach you the Song Of Connection. It has been in the royal family for a long time. Should you not be able to reach me, you can play this song and somewhere, somehow, we will be able to connect."

She plays the song and Link listens closely, his eyes closed. When she is done, he plays it back to her. Then they play together. She smiles. Then her smile fades, as does she and the memory.

"Link?" says Ellemy.

He looks at her, blinking a few times.

"You went somewhere again, didn't you?"

He nods.

"You didn't answer my question last time. Where do you go?"

"To the past."

Ellemy looks at him quizzically. "I thought you had all your memories back."

"I do," he says. "But that one was from another life."